| Author | Message | ||
     Eshardball |
I just replaced my front isolator with the 16207-79B part. This had been previously replaced by the dealer under recall. The bike only has 18K. I found a posting in the knowledge vault about leftcoastal's bad experience with the urethane replacement which failed rapidly. I looked at the the same part and felt that the urethane was too soft to support the wieght of the motor. Since I am now on the third Isolator, has anyone found a better unit than what I already have? 9K miles seems like really poor life from such an important part. | ||
| Buellistic |
This part started out as 16207-79 ... On my 1997 S3T the OEM ISOLATOR was 16207-79B and in the BUELL TUBE FRAME Parts Books until end of production run in 2002 ... It was later up-dated to 16207-79C which is BUELL Motor Company's "BUELLschitte" part number L0501.T which is in the BLAST and supposed to be sold to TUBE FRAME'ers ... This ISOLATOR has now been up-dated to 17207-79D because on the BIG Cubic Inch Big Twin engines because the -79C was not strong enough to hold the engine ... If you ride your TUBE FRAME or BLAST hard "i" highly recommend installing the 16207-79D ... Now if you can keep a 16207-79D in your next option is to install a Drag Specialties Isolator Limiter part number DS243535 beef up the isolator even more ... Of course the HARLEY-DAVIDSON technician parts person will tell you it will not fit or work, to that "i" say "BUELLschitte" !!! It you do not know to the age of these parts these HARLY-DAVIDSON parts technician persons will sell you out of date parts and not the latest and greatest !!! | ||
| Oldog |
there is a buell specific part check with AL at asb on this and urethane isos I just replaced mine at 18 months in service and about 15k miles the elastic part was ripping apart and the motor had sagged about 1/2 inch the top part was failing, when it finaly lets go I think that you get the broken bolts in the front head mount IMO, follow this link and check Naustins thread on shreded iso http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=3842&post=802116#POST802116 (Message edited by oldog on August 03, 2008) (Message edited by oldog on August 03, 2008) | ||
| Naustin |
The 79D might be the latest and greatest, but it also has a smaller center hole. You'll either have to Drill the rubber out larger to accomodate your factory mounting hardware, or use a smaller diameter bolt. Either way, you run the risk of compromising the 79D part, or using a bolt that can't take the stress loads. The 79C/L0501 part is different than what the bike was orginally designed with and is apparentlhy not up to the job. Even my wife's blast is eating them. This problem exists because Buell used a Harley Part, and Harley changed the specs leaving older Buell owners high and dry. There is no easy solution. Buellistic's solution is probably your best bet. For me, I'm not going re-engineer the bike just to keep it on the road. "Buellschite" is the right word, for sure. I'm about {} that far from pulling the trigger on a brand new Honda. | ||
| Buellistic |
If you check out cross reference's on parts you will find a lot of H-D parts being used !!! The OEM rear isolators used on my 1997 S3T are used on the SOFT TAIL BIG TWIN, "BUT" were not heavy duty enough to use on the TUBE FRAME Models ... | ||
| Georgedombeck |
Has anyone tried machining a hockey puck to the right size and use that? I have used hockey pucks for all kinds of motor mounts and transmision mounts on cars and it works great. They are a denser rubber than stock motormounts but not as hard as using solid mounts, like in racing applications. george | ||
| Sloppy |
Look in knowledge vault for detailed discussion on front isolator. I've never had any problems with the Buell factory parts and they lasted around 25,000 miles - and this is from the "old un-improved batch" of isolator! I use my bike for track days, daily commuting, touring, etc., so I'm not exactly "easy" on the bike. The only issue is that you have to order the Buell PN, not the HD part number. If you don't have a Buell rep locally available then go through any of the great vendors available on the board. They'll get you the correct part in but a few days, if not overnight. Remember, you have to go through a Buell dealer as HD dealers DO NOT carry the correct part number, so don't even try! When installing make sure you follow all torque and installation procedures per FSM. It's an extremely easy installation and if you're worried about it you can just include it as part of the front steering bearing lubrication which is to be done every 10,000 miles. There, that's simple. | ||
| Naustin |
Funny, I got less than 1,000 miles out of the last TWO front isolators - and they were both BUELL parts #L0501.2 and came in a BUELL package. Danbury Buell, and highly respected buell dealer went over the bike with a fine tooth comb and could find nothing wrong that could be causing the failures. I'm either getting bad parts, or the bike has some other problem that even one of the best dealer's in the country couldn't diagnose. Did you really just imply that changing the motor mount should be normal maintenence every 10K mi? That's ridiculous. Some people would be doing that twice a season! | ||
| Buellistic |
Naustin: On the ISOLATOR is a HARLEY-DAVIDSON Part Number ... If you kept the last ISOLATOR, look at it and let us know what that part number is ... It will be 16207-79 with a HIGH CASE letter after the -79 ... | ||
| Buellfighter |
My second isolator in 7 yrs. Drill it and be done with it, it's really not that difficult. | ||
| Naustin |
of course it isn't difficult. It's the goddamn principle of the thing. Why don't they build a -79D with a bigger hole for the Tubers? Because they don't give a shit, that's why... | ||
| Naustin |
Buellistic - the one failed one I have is the one I replaced before I left for the trip 2 weeks ago. The bike has eaten 2 more since this one. It says 16207-79B on it. it lasted less than a year and ~ 5,000 miles. It was special ordered and came in a Buell Package and was labled L0501.2 on the package The next one lasted 4 days and less than 1,500 miles - replaced at Danbury Buell. (don't have it to look at) The one Danbury put in was also a BUELL part and the number on the package was L0501.2. It failed in 3 days and less than 1,000 miles. Its still in the bike and I can't see what numbers are stamped on it. (Message edited by naustin on August 03, 2008) | ||
| Bigslug |
I installed one of the LO501.2 isolators before I left for homecoming. 1800 mi later on the way home it completely pulled the center sleeve out. My original 2000 isolator had just a small tear in the side, so I put in back on, no problems yet. Drag Specialties has a bolt in isolator they list as a big twin part. I tried one for a while and while it held up fine, it was a harder compound rubber and transferred more vibration through the bars. I think it was less than twenty bucks, might be worth a try. http://www.shopv-twincycles.com/shop/productdetail .htm?productId=5916693&catalogId=&searchProducts=f ront%20motor%20mount Mike (Message edited by bigslug on August 03, 2008) | ||
| Buellistic |
Naustin: Looking through the maintenance records on my 1997 S3T and find that the only time the front ISOLATOR was replaced(had a -79B and replaced it with a -79C) was at 53K miles ... Have a 104,0365.1 mile as of the last ride and it feels like "i" need to remove the gas tank and check the front ISOLATOR ... It will get replaced with a -79D because "i" will make the mount bolt hole larger ... TUBE FRAME engines are hard on ISOLATORS ... Have a 2000 BLAST with 7K and have already replaced the front ISOLATOR ... When it gets replaced again it also will get the -79D ISOLATOR ... | ||
| Jramsey |
How is it "TUBE FRAME engines are hard on ISOLATORS?" They both have the same Milwaukee vibrator power plant. | ||
| Buellistic |
Well for one thing the engine is HEAVY ... The other, it MOVES around a lot ... (Message edited by buellistic on August 03, 2008) | ||
| Eshardball |
I used the drag specialties part which is their version of 16207-79C. I found that it transferred a lot more vibration through the bars below 3000 RPM. Crossroads HD/Buell can get me the alledged correct part but I don't think that I should have to drill out the factory part that is supposed to be for my bike.I am presumming that the engineers did not select the bolt size at random and downsizing the part that holds the motor from dragging on the ground does not make sense IMO.Holy @%*^%!. I just want a part that doesn't feel like a solid motor mount and doesn't crap out in 1 year. I love my lightning but this kind of crap makes guys turn rice burner! | ||
| Eshardball |
Buellistic, What did you find that the Drag Specialties Isolator limiter did for the performance of the L0501 Buell isolator? the Drag Specialties unit may not drop the motor but is rock hard. The recall replacement that was installed by the dealer has a 7 in a circle followed by 97. Since my bike was manufactured in Sept 97, I figure that this was just another of the same failed part that they replaced because the recall said that they had to but never upgraded to the improved part. It has a C shaped tear in the bottom around the center tube. | ||
| Eshardball |
I just found "BARRY 2804" on the failed part that I removed so I guess it was the improved version | ||
| Naustin |
BMC is responsible to provide replacement parts. I don't care about work arounds, or modifications or jimmy-rigged fixes out of Harley's part's bin. I expect my parts to come in buell packaging and if they can't do it, then I can't own one of thier bikes. I'm done with this mickey mouse crap. I expect my bike to need maintenance, but when it gets fixed, it should stay fixed. The bike has gone though 4 front isolators since new. The first one lasted 10K, the second one 5K, third 1,500, fourth one less than 1K. No one can explain why. Its absolutly unacceptable. Riding the bike with a bad isolator then caused a failure of the head bolt, and if the other one, or the bracket had failed - which was absolutly only a matter of time and a miracle that it didn't -- my wife and I could have been killed. And if one more mthfkn shop tech accuses me of doing too many wheelies (I have never even tried one) I'll stab him in the eyeballs and saw off his head Canada style. EDIT) PLUS! My blast lost its original isolator at ~8K miles and the replacement (another L0501.2) failed less than 1,000 miles later. The damn BLAST is on its 3rd isolator and it only has 9,XXX miles on it!! WTF!?! (Message edited by naustin on August 03, 2008) | ||
| Eshardball |
sawzall is much less messy than the Stihl 029 | ||
| Naustin |
F'in bowie knife, preferably dull. (Message edited by naustin on August 03, 2008) | ||
| Buellistic |
Eshardball: The way "i" got the heads up on the Drag Specialties Isolator Limiter/Stiffner was the Dealer "i" ride out of has a BLAST rider that is hard on front isolators ... So they put one on the riders BLAST, but "i" have not heard about the out come yet ??? This Limiter/stiffner was made for the BIG'ER CUBIC INCH TWIN'S before the -79D came out ... The difference in the way it(-79)isolator is used is the TUBE FRAME engine hangs from it and the BIG TWIN engine sits on it which would mean that a smaller bolt could be used for the -79D .. | ||
| Eshardball |
Drag Specialties lists the application for FX and Buell. Because the engine hangs from it instead of placing it under compression as on an FX, I am hesitant to down size the bolt. The Drag Specalties isolator is too damn hard. I don't mind investing in this Isolator limiter if someone that has used it can tell me what it will do for me.If not, I will use the part marked "BARRY" if I can find one and keep the new 16207-79B as a spare | ||
| Mmmi_grad |
Has anyone done a complete motor / chassis alignment? | ||
| Buellistic |
"i" have thought the thought, but that is all ... | ||
| Buellfighter |
Naustin, I am already TOO aware of your feelings drilling a "goddamn" iso to make it work. I am simply posting what I have found to work for me so others don't have to suffer as you are. good luck. | ||
| Sloppy |
Since the complaints for isolators are fairly rare compared to the volume and miles of bikes out there (these are 9+ year old bikes now!), there is likely another root cause of failure. Sorry, I can't empathize with the rant of "Buell needs to fix their isolators" cause me and my friends don't have any problems with them. If you're having a repeat isolator failure then you could be looking at a symptom, not the problem... | ||
| Eshardball |
I don't know how chronic the problem actually is. I am on my third in 18K miles.Considering that this part is asked to support the weight of the motor and the stresses transmitted through the front mount as the shock compresses, This mileage may just be the design life span for certain models. The FAA establishes inspection and replacement intervals for aircraft parts based upon problems reported by mechanics working on the aircraft or catastrophies. If I need to replace the part every 10K miles, so be it. I am not particularly hard on my bike other than a few wheelies and have not seen any other obvious causes. The iso that I recently replaced was tearing but had not failed yet. It may have gone another 4K miles before it would have failed. I found it during a pre flight inspection.The Drag Specialties part that seems to transmit vibration has the center tube protruding past the top of the rubber. This means that the large washer on top is not exerting any compression force on the rubber mount. Perhaps trimming the top of the tube below the rubber will solve the vibration issue. | ||
| Oldog |
I just replaced the front iso like hard ball mine failed at about 18 months there is evidence of ripping of the bond the rubber was in a strain and was being pulled down by the front of the motor. I got the buell packaged one from American Sport Bike to avoid issues with the thing. the center tube that the bolt passes through is long enough that unless installed and torqued the top washer does not touch the rubber I do not agree with drilling the insert of the HD part to fit it. I wonder if the new part is a bit soft or the rubber formula has been changed by the vendor unknown to Buell any way I hope that all of us can watch the life of these parts help determine if a problem exisits. Nicks bike is a frightening example of what can happen EVEN when we got to some lengths to maintain our bikes. I know that it wont make Buell a dime and that their resources are finite but it seems apropriate that the factory assist at some level with trying to determin the cause of this failure. It certainly will impact my future buying decisions |
